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Mérinville Polissoir
Trip No.204 Entry No.239 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Log Text: The Mérinville Polissoir is another stone the farmers wife at Coinche said I should go to see. However, I am not exactly sure where to find it, and it is now pouring with rain, so I am not going to go for a long walk now, especially as it is getting late and starting to get dark. There is no sign to it, so I will for now leave it.
Polissoir des Davaux
Trip No.204 Entry No.240 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Log Text: At Pers-en-Gâtinais there is another polissoir stone marked on my map, but I could find no obvious sign of this. Perhaps tomorrow.
Menhir du Bois de Forville
Trip No.204 Entry No.241 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Log Text: To the south of Pers-en-Gâtinais there is a menhir and nearby polissoir stone marked on my map, but I could find no obvious sign of this.
Lancy Polissoir
Trip No.204 Entry No.228 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Lancy Polissoir submitted by thecaptain on 20th Jun 2008. As polissoir stones that I have seen go, this is not very impressive. Its a nice stone in the forest, about 2.5m by 2.5 m laying on the ground, with a couple of polishing grooves and a basin which can be determined. The basin is actually very nicely polished.
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Log Text: About 350 metres to the north of the D.110 road through Lancy Forest can be found this polissoir stone. Park at the Pavillon-de-Lancy picnic site, and the stone can be found down the track along the edge of the forest from there. Luckily it is signposted, as without them I would never have found it.
As polissoir stones that I have seen go, this is not very impressive. Its a nice stone in the forest, about 2.5m by 2.5 m laying on the ground, with a couple of polishing grooves and a basin which can be determined. The basin is actually very nicely polished. This seems a slightly strange place for a polissoir stone, as I can see no natural source for any water nearby, although the stone itself has a large hollow which could have been used as a reservoir. And it is raining !
Petit dolmen de Trainel
Trip No.204 Entry No.226 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Petit dolmen de Trainel submitted by theCaptain on 4th Aug 2011. Without the signpost right beside it, I very much doubt that I would have found this, although it is right beside the path. There are hundreds of better more dolmenic looking rocks in this forest ! I can't believe I spent the best part of three days and 700 km of driving to get here !
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Log Text: About 15 metres to the north of the Grand Dolmen along the slope of the hill, and perhaps in what was once the same mound can be found the Petit Dolmen. It doesn’t look much more than a medium sized rock sat on the hillside, but closer inspection shows there to be a 1 metre by 0.5 metre slab sided cist underneath the 1.7 m by 1 m capstone.
Without the signpost right beside it, I very much doubt that I would have found this, although it is right beside the path. There are hundreds of better more dolmenic looking rocks in this forest ! I cant believe I spent the best part of three days and 700 km of driving to get here ! Lets hope for better to come, but I wont hold my breath. Dammit, now its raining. Lots of deer about though, and just sitting writing this I can sense them watching me from behind the trees.
Pierre à l'Eau
Trip No.204 Entry No.229 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Pierre à l'Eau submitted by theCaptain on 5th Aug 2011. A lovely polissoir stone deep in Lancy Forest, with its own source of water in the form of a couple of deep basins, and it is not far from a little stream.
The stone has five well worn grooves and a couple of flat basins for polishing.
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Log Text: This is much more like it, a lovely polissoir stone, with its own source of water in the form of a couple of deep basins which I assume are natural, and it is not far from a little stream. The stone is sort of triangular, about 2 m by 1.5 m, and has five well worn grooves and a couple of flat basins for polishing. It is found from the D.110 road through Lancy Forest, south of the Pavillon-de-Lancy. There is a parking place and signposted walk of 650 metres from there to the east.
Polissoir avec Cuvette
Trip No.204 Entry No.230 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Polissoir avec Cuvette submitted by TheCaptain on 6th Aug 2011. About 50 metres from the Pierre à l'Eau can be found a second polissoir stone.
This one has a large water filled basin, and as far as I can make out, only two large flattish basin like polishing areas.
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Log Text: About 50 metres from the Pierre à l'Eau, and thankfully signposted through the tricky forest, can be found a second polissoir stone. This one has a large water filled basin, and as far as I can make out, only two two large flattish basin like polishing areas. I guess this stone was used for the flat faces, while stone 1 was used for the edges.
Menhir de Coinche
Trip No.204 Entry No.235 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Menhir de Coinche submitted by thecaptain on 12th Feb 2007. Coinche menhir is a lovely multicoloured puddingstone menhir, perhaps 1.5 metres high and at least as wide, and about 0.5 m thick.
Near to the top there is a hole which goes right through the stone. It is not known whether this is a much more recent modification to the stone or original.
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Log Text: This menhir is in the middle of a cropped field just behind the farmhouse, down a track and then turn left near the wood. It is not normally possible to get right to it, but I was proudly shown the stone by the wife of the farmer. The field is full of sunflowers this year, and the stone was not visible from the road, and proved difficult to find, even for the farmers wife and daughter.
It stands in a little area left uncropped for its protection. It is a lovely multicoloured puddingstone menhir, perhaps 1.5 metres high and at least as wide, and about 0.5 m thick. Near to the top there is a hole which goes right through the stone. It is not known whether this is a much more recent modification to the stone or original. Beside the stone there are two smaller stones, one each side. I was told that it is thought that these two stones were used to place lamps on when ceremonies were carried out here.
La Pierre Pointue (Montacher)
Trip No.204 Entry No.234 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
La Pierre Pointue (Montacher) submitted by thecaptain on 15th Feb 2007. La Pierre Pointue, Montacher-Villegardin.
It is about 2.3 metres tall, and very pointed as its name would suggest.
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Log Text: A few kilometres to the south of the village of Montacher-Villegardin via windy unmarked roads, and about a kilometre walk to the west of the little road which runs south from the village, along farm tracks and you can find this menhir in a field. It is about 2.3 metres tall, and very pointed as its name would suggest. Around the stone are lots more rocks, whether broken from it or field clearance I cannot say.
Menhir dit la Grande Roche
Trip No.204 Entry No.238 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Menhir dit la Grande Roche submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2007. To the west of the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais can be found this 2.5 metre tall menhir in a field beside the small road to Merville.
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Log Text: To the west of the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais can be found this 2.5 metre tall menhir in a field beside the small road to Mérinville. It is in the middle of a freshly ploughed field, so I didn't go right up to it, but it is only 50 metres from the roadside.
Grand dolmen de Trainel
Trip No.204 Entry No.225 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Grand dolmen de Trainel submitted by theCaptain on 27th Apr 2012. The Grand Dolmen is a bit of a mess of large stones with the remains of a bit of a mound around them, built into the hillside in the forest.
There is one obvious capstone sitting on top of some support stones, with a chamber underneath.
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Log Text: There are two dolmens here in the Traînel forest, signposted a couple of kilometres to the west of Saint-Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes. Where the road bends, park in the forest car park and walk for a kilometre to the north along the forest track, and the dolmens are signposted from here.
The Grand Dolmen is a bit of a mess of large stones with the remains of a bit of a mound around them, built into the hillside in the forest. There is one obvious capstone of dimensions 2.5 m by 1.5 m sitting on top of some support stones, with a 2 metres long by by 1 metre wide chamber underneath. Besides it is the remains of what was another small chamber and it is possible that there were once more. It's all a bit of a muddle though, not helped by the badgers that have made it their home.
Mérinville Polissoir
Trip No.204 Entry No.243 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Today I went back for a proper look for the Mérinville Polissoir, which is another stone the farmers wife at Coinche said I should go to see. I walked a lot down the forest track near to where it is marked on my map, but there was no chance of finding it without knowing exactly where to look. There is lots of marsh and ponds in the forest which doesn't help in trying to find anything. After quite some time going to look at any rock I can see, I decide its time to give up ! Shame.
Polissoirs des Ortures
Trip No.204 Entry No.245 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Near the hamlet of Les Ortures, in the Bois Tranzy, there is a little signposted footpath near to the reservoirs. Along this path can be found two rock outcrops, the tops of which have been used for polishing stone tools. One of the two rocks has several grooves in it, while the other has a polishing basin.
La Roche au Diable (Paley)
Trip No.204 Entry No.246 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Marked near to the menhir is a polissoir stone, in the woods down by the little river. I could find no obvious signpost or footpath towards where it is marked, and having now found out how difficult to find some of these polissoir stones are to find, I didnt spend any time looking.
Menhir dit la Pierre aux Prêtres
Trip No.204 Entry No.249 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Menhir dit la Pierre aux Prêtres submitted by holger_rix on 24th May 2016. Menhir de Tousson (Menhir dit la Pierre aux Prêtres)
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Log Text: I could find nowhere to stop beside a nasty busy road to go and look for this stone. I could see nothing obvious.
Dolmen des Grès de Linas
Trip No.204 Entry No.250 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Essonne (91))
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Dolmen des Grès de Linas submitted by Sleb on 21st Jul 2015. Site in Ile-de-France:Essonne (91) France
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Log Text: I spent ages looking for this. I can only assume it is somewhere in the very dense fenced off woodland, in amongst the open fields. I am getting fed up of all this again.
Grosse Pierre d'Ymorville
Trip No.204 Entry No.253 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: This stone is about 500 metres from the road, according to the map, but I could see nothing obvious. There are no features around to help find it, in the middle of this massive industrial farming area. Perhaps it is in a field of maize. Perhaps I saw a large stone in a field of stubble. All very frustrating. Onwards towards Chartres.
Monte à Peine menhir
Trip No.204 Entry No.242 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Monte à Peine menhir submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2007. Monte à Peine menhir is right beside the road, but almost lost in bushes and undergrowth.
It's just over 2 metres tall, and looks to be a lump of sarsen type stone.
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Log Text: Take Rue du Menhir east from the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais, and just after the first road junction the road bears round to the right. The menhir is right beside the road, but almost lost in bushes and undergrowth. It's just over 2 metres tall, and is a lump of sarsen type stone.
La Pierre Clouée (Nanteau)
Trip No.204 Entry No.244 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
La Pierre Clouée (Nanteau) submitted by thecaptain on 17th Feb 2007. La Pierre Clouée, or Pierre Fitte, is a 4.5 metre tall menhir which can be found in a field south of the village of Villemarechal.
It has been ploughed very close to, and in fact is suffering from various collisions with agricultural machinery. There are also many old nails hammered into it.
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Log Text: This is a 4.5 metre tall menhir which can be found in a field south of the village of Villemarechal. Its near enough a kilometres walk from the roadside, but can easily be seen from there. It has been ploughed very close to, and in fact is suffering from various collisions with agricultural machinery. There are also several nails hammered into it. It also suffers from many overhead powerlines buzzing away, but it is still here after thousands of years, proudly overlooking the local landscape.
La Pierre Clouée translates roughly as the nailed stone - and it is an old folk tale that if one circles the stone seven times saying magic words, and then nails a bouquet to the stone, true love will be found.
Menhir de la Croix Saint Jacques
Trip No.204 Entry No.248 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Menhir de la Croix Saint Jacques submitted by thecaptain on 23rd Feb 2007. Menhir de la Croix Saint Jacques can be found in a field just to the south of the village of Tousson.
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Log Text: This menhir can be found in a field just to the side of the D.410 road, about 500 metres to the south of the village of Tousson. It stands about 3.3 metres tall, and is a rectangular section lump of sarsen. I found it difficult to park here.